Reuters is reporting that starting January 3rd (today) Target - the No. 2 U.S. discount retailer - is introducing "The Great Save" in its 1,740 stores.In the space where it typically sells seasonal merchandise, Target will instead set up a "warehouse-club-like experience" to copy the success of clubs like Costco in drawing more store traffic with deals on necessities. For the next 7 weeks, Target's Great Save will feature items like a six-pack of bath towels for $19.99, children's T-shirts for $3, and 35-packs of Market Pantry bottled water for $3.59. Its stores typically carry 24-packs of the Market Pantry water for $3.99.
Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club charge members an annual fee to benefit from their discounts. But Target says its Great Save will give shoppers warehouse club savings without the warehouse membership fees.
Readers, I guess this is good news if you like to buy in bulk and want to get the "Costco experience" while perusing the aisles at Target. But the bad news is that with this move, Target will abandon their annual temporary events in January like the "Global Bazaar" or "Home Design Event" to entice shoppers with exotic home decor like African wood carvings and Asian accent tables. Target does currently have a "New Year Home Event" online, but it looks doubtful that these offerings will be made available in-store.
11 comments:
PS. I loved Sherlock Holmes too ;)
just came from Target and saw what you were talking about...I hoped it was temporary until Global Bazaar. I'm disappointed!
Good idea, but I was waiting for Global Bazaar. Sad to hear it isn't coming this year. Target should bring back the line Global Home.
Agreed that Target should bring back the Global Bazaar; I miss it as well. And, IMO, Targe't 'Great Save' is pretty WEAK. I wasn't going to go to Target today, but my hubby suggested we go on the way to the grocery store today. [keep in mind that him actually SUGGESTING that we go there - together - is a rare occurance!]. We swung by the 'Great Save' section to check it out, and it was pretty dissappointing. Picture a small corner of the store - the same area that formerly housed the Christmas stuff, only smaller - now packed with multi-packs of t-shirts, toilet paper, bottled water, and DVDs.
Maybe Target should consider merging with Costco to increase both of their buying power capture synergies (corporate buzz words, I could be CEO now), and better fend off the Walmart/Sams monster for both of them. The stores can keep thier names. If they need to merge the privete label merchandise under one name to capture synergies (ok enough with the corporate buzz words) like I think Walmart/Sams do, I would prefer that Costco stores carry the Target brands (Market pantry, Archer Farms, Up & Up, Merona, Mossimo. C9/Champion) rather than the boring Kirkland name across the board. Or they could just keep their existing private label names but sorce them from the place/manufacturer. Merging with A wholesaler like Costco would also help Target grow their grocery opperations.
Too bad on Global Bazaar. I had a friend that decorated his apartment from that sale!
Wait, So I just realized that you are saying there will be no Global Bazaar? I thought this was just temporary untill the do the GB. I thought the GB didnt happen till like late in Jan or Feb. Ive noticed Target often does bulk items between seasons. In a way thats good because I can't possibly fit anymore stuff in my condo, but I still like to check it out.
I thought Target didn't have Global Bazaar anymore (I'm a Target affiliate, btw...not an expert but I know a few things about special annual sales and events). Used to love it. I think this Great Save thing will be awesome. My family missed out on Costco and Sam's Club savings because we didn't want to pay for membership so The Great Save is perfect for our big family.
I was getting so excited around christmas for the roll out of the Global Bazaar/Design Event. What a let down! Its by far my favorite seasonal section. Plus I find it a bit maddening when they fill the seasonal section with product I can find elsewhere in store.
Mike721 and Lucy in the Sky, to clarify: from what I gather from the Reuters article (which is linked to my post) there will be no Global Bazaar or Home Event in stores this year. They've been abandoned in favor of this new "Great Save" promotion. Lucy, you're correct that starting last year, Target changed the name of the "Global Bazaar" (which had been the name since 2005) to the "Home Design Event".
loved Sherlock HolmesTarget should bring back the line Global Home.
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